Page 74 of Am I the Only One

“Sorry, but I have to go.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, Tripp is heading back into the city and needs to get a hotel room for the night, so I have to hurry and get one booked for him.”

I tuck her words into my back pocket. “Okay, no worries.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” she says. “Let’s try to grab lunch this next week!”

“Sounds great.”

There’s nothing left of this evening, so I turn in early, only to wake the next morning still groggy and slow to start. I drag myself out of bed and get ready for the day. Luca has already left for school by the time I’m put together and emerge from my bedroom.

He was nice enough to leave the coffee on for me, and I grab myself a tumbler so I don’t have to drink the coffee at that shitty diner where Carly always wants to meet. It really does taste like an old ashtray.

The morning is gloomy, and I’m anxious for spring. Winter has been unrelenting this year, and I’m ready to welcome back the warm sun. Barren trees, rimmed in layers of ice, line the streets as I make my way to the diner. As usual, I park my car under the dilapidated sign that I doubt even lights up at night. Carly’s car is already here. I sit for a moment and remind myself of all the reasons why I have to keep pressing on. There’s too much on the line, so I’ll do whatever it takes in order to keep her wallet open.

She sticks out like a sore thumb when I enter the diner, wearing a silk blouse and a pair of Chanel earrings, which are tacky as hell with their in-your-face double c’s.

“I ordered you a coffee,” she says, as if it’s some favor to me.

“Thanks.”

I sit across from her, and she watches as I slide the cup and saucer to the side. I’m still irritated with how she treated me on the phone last night. I expected her to be pissed, but it still pinched a nerve in me. I don’t know this woman very well, but from what I have figured out, she makes very rash decisions and doesn’t appear to have a firm grasp of what she’s trying to accomplish. That’s okay because it makes it possible for me to take advantage of the situation, and that’s why I agreed to meet her this morning.

“Look, I’m not sure where to start, but when I told you that this was done and over with, I meant it,” she says. “I need you to cut off all contact with my husband.”

“It isn’t that easy.”

She shakes her head, confused. “Why not?”

“Because he’s the one who keeps calling. He even called me late last night. I sent it straight to voice mail, but that didn’t stop him from showing up at my front door.”

Her eyes widen just slightly as her lips part in shock.

“He said he was under a lot of stress and that he’s been having a hard time dealing with everything that’s on his plate. We talked for a bit on my front porch, but he was insistent that I come with him to the hotel he was staying at.”

Her hands are talons, twisting the napkin she has a death grip on. It’s how I know I have her.

“My roommate was home, and I worried that he would raise his voice or get upset if I told him that I couldn’t go with him, so I went.”

“You did what?”

“I went with him,” I repeat.

“I can’t believe you.”

“Me? You can’t believeme? What about your husband? At what point are you going to stop looking at me the way you are right now? As if I’m the bad guy.” The tension becomes too much, and her napkin rips. “In case you forgot, I’m here because of you. Becauseyouneededmyhelp, so why are you treating me as if I’m the enemy?”

“Because you keep pushing and this needs to stop. Right now.” Her words are sharp, stabbing each syllable with fervency. “Stay away from him. Understood?”

Being scolded like a child makes me want to push back and abrades my patience with this woman. Instead of fanning her flame, I comply. “Understood.”

Without another word, she slips the strap of her purse onto her shoulder and begins scooting out of the booth.

“Wait.”

She stops.

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